Intcatinfo
A Masterpiece!
Aubrey Hackett
While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.
Tin_ear
It's tough to make you cringe at the right moment, or evoke a laugh or emotion at exactly the right time. Barry Levinson's been around long enough to master all that. Pacino is surprisingly good, which sounds stupid, but after years of taking crappy scripts it feels odd to see him give a convincing, subtle performance in a well-written film. You never quite figure him out until the end, but as with any great movie you are left the unanswerable questions. Was Kevorkian driven by hubris or heroism, or insanity, or morbid personality quirks? He's definitely a kook, but his grip on reality remains fairly solid. Maybe there is no difference in his case, and maybe his ghoulish interest in a world filled with cruelty and injustice drove him to see death as a right. Or maybe he is just doing what any conscientious doctor should be doing. Now if only they had picked a better name for the movie.
punishmentpark
A biopic that is at times really hard to watch, but does an admirable job in telling things as they are - even if it is 'just' a movie. In America, this issue is still... an issue, in Holland... it also still is (pain, suffering and death will not be eradicated from life with a changing of the law, even if it may of course help considerably), since recently a doctor took his own life after euthanizing a patient under (alledged) suspicious circumstances and being investigated by a medical board. Still, the rules áre more humane here than in America, with exception of a few states (though it must be assisted suicide, not euthanasia, something which would be unthinkable in Holland). It can be made to be a difficult subject of debate, but here (in the film) the conditions for euthanasia are clear and, for instance, Kevorkian turns down about 97% of the requests and a man who is 'simply' depressed, is refused as well. Sure, he paints macabre paintings and he has a strong tendency to make life as difficult as possible for himself, but he has great wit and a tough history to overcome. I should say 'had', may he rest in peace.Back to the cinema. Al Pacino plays a captivating Dr. Kevorkian, and Vaccano, Goodman, Huston and Sarandon assist wonderfully. With its runtime well over two hours, it is no small feat that it does not bore for a minute; not only is this story interesting and challenging, but it is told with great care and calm and does not repeat itself at all. Every new case adds a new element to the story of Kevorkian's struggle for a basic civil right. Visually I really liked the film, too; sober and grayish, though it has atmosphere in spades.A good 8 out of 10.
voyager13
Pacino, Goodman, Huston, Sarandon, all these old farts are at the top of their game even now. The storyline is strong, in fact, its a true story, but the important thing is how Pacino carried it on his shoulders. Lately he seems to have been written off as a 'has-been' but I think he proves it wrong in this one. Danny Huston, as always a great actor, is wearing a wig throughout and seems to make it a part of his body without any problems. Again, like Pacino, he is deep into the storyline with his supporting act and boy is he a professional. All in all, I was moved, excited, entertained, laughed, cried, etc, everything a good movie should have. Don't miss this one.
Chadwick Ahn
Al Pacino is great at what he does, and with age, he has only become better at his role as the defeated man of stubborn reasoning. Like in many of his previous films (such as The Son of No One and Insomnia), Al Pacino is the obvious highlight. His captivating acting and eccentric personas are enough to push ratings up a whole level. In the case of You Don't Know Jack, Al Pacino doesn't lift up a terrible movie to become bearable, but a good movie to become great. While the film may have very depressing tones (it's about assisted suicide after all), it doesn't mean that it lacks entertainment value in any way.Jack Kevorkian (Al Pacino) is nicknamed the "doctor of death" for his involvement in many assisted suicide cases. His sister (Brenda Vaccaro), Neal Nicol (John Goodman), Janet Good (Susan Sarandon), and his lawyer (Geoffrey Fieger), help him avoid the law as he aids people who are in too much pain to continue living. The film sends a strong, legal message about how people should have the right to choose whether or not they want to pull their own plug. The message gets you thinking about your own life and the people you care about, which easily makes the film a lot more of a personal experience than one might expect.The entertainment values that are to be expected from this TV film are along the lines of an educational journey and heart wrenching acting. Al Pacino sells his role very well, as if he himself is advocating for the rights. Also, his slight Midwestern accent is compelling to see. John Goodman's existence in the film relieves the overbearing darker moods and helps humanize Jack. The other supporting actors are all great additions to the cast as well.The story may take a while to develop, but if you stick it out, you are sure to learn a thing or two.
